Shoal-water indicator.



P. E. FORSTBR. SHOAL WATER INDICATOR.

APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV. 23, 1909.

Patented Aug/9, 1910.

Jul/071.901: 0701M (3: m,

THE Mamas PETERS cm, WASHINGTIIN, u. c,

FERDINAND E. FORSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOAL-WATER INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Application filed November 23, 1909. Serial No. 529,537.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND E. Fons rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shoal-Water Indicators, of

which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to sounding means of that class in which a submerged plane or sounder attachedto'the moving vessel and presented angularly to the water is drawn through the latter and thereby forced downwardly and forwardly, traveling with the vessel in such relation thereto as to strike bottom and indicate shoal water through the cessation or change of note produced by a resonator forming part of the apparatus. A sounding apparatus of this character is shown and described in Letters Patent to me, issued Feb. 10, 1903, No. 720,015.

The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of planes by which swerving and oscillating movements of the sounder are eliminated, and also to simplify the apparatus and present it in position for convenient and immediate service when required.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show an approved form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of a vessel with the sounder attached thereto and in action, Fig. 2 is a similar view, on a larger scale, with the sounder out of use. Fig. 3 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of the sounding apparatus alone. Fig. 5 is a top view of the sounder. Fig. 6 is a corresponding front view. Fig. 7 is a section on a larger scale, showing the means employed for securing the sounding wire to 1ts support. Fig. 8 is a transverse section through a portion of the resonator, showing the means for attaching it to the sounding wire. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 in the preceding figure. Fig. 10 is a perspec tive view of the sounder alone.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A is a vessel having a spar B projecting outwardly at the bow thereof and carrying at the outboard end a rearwardly curved bar B drilled axially to receive the end of a strong wire L, inserted therein and hold by pinching screws B B The wire is preferably steel of the character known as piano wire, and at the free end is attached to the sounder.

Secured to the wire L near the spar B is a resonator N the function of which is to reinforce the vibrations of the wire due to the passage of the sounder through the water and emit an audible note.

The sounder comprises a central vertical plate or fin if having on each side a laterally projecting bar M carrying a horizontal plate or plane V1 separated from the fin M and weighted at the forward end by triangular bars of lead M The planes M M are at or near the mid-height of the fin and extend rearwardly from the inclined front edge thereof a little distance beyond the midlength. The weights M are secured to the under facesof the planes leaving the upper faces smooth to be acted upon by the water. At a point in the upper edge of the fin near the rear end is a loop or shackle M to which the free end of the wire L is fastened, and at the forward end is a hole m through which is passed a short length of copper wire M encircling the wire L and forming an easily-broken link at the draftpoint or hole on in the fin.

When submerged and drawn through the water by the motion of the vessel, the weights M tend to sink the forward end of the sounder, and the draft-point is so located relatively to the planes M M as to present the latter at the proper angle to insure the required forward travel. When proportioned as shown, the sounder and wire will assume and maintain a position relatively. to the point of attachment of the spar, approximately that shown in Fig. 1.

The central fin insures an upright position in the water, and by reason of the space between each wing or plane M and the fin the tendency to roll or rock is avoided and the sounder moves smoothly and steadily. The vibrations due to the movement are transmitted to the tense wire, reinforced by the resonant qualities of the hollow open-ended shell N fixed thereon, and produce a continuous sound resembling a shrill whistling note easily heard and distinguished by per sons on the vessel. Contact of the sounder with the bottom changes the sound emitted by the resonator, thus indicating shoal water.

the latter are turned down thereon.

By attaching the front end of the sounder to the wire L by means of the comparatively weak link M the danger of losing the sounder through engagement with the bottom or other obstruction is greatly lessened; the fracture of the link permits the sounder to reverse and travel idly through the water near the surface until recovered and drawn aboard the vessel.

The Wire L is held permanently engaged with the spar, and when the apparatus is not in service the wire is hung along the outer face of the rail on hooks C provided for the purpose, the sounder being similarly supported, so that when required for use the sounder and wire may be easily disengaged and dropped overboard without danger of entanglement.

In attaching the resonator N to the wire two or more holes are produced in its cylindrical surface on a line parallel with its axis, and bolts N inserted therein from the interior. Each bolt has a deep kerf or narrow notch 11, in which the wire L is received and held strongly between the exterior surface of the resonator and the nuts l\ when The position of the resonator may be varied by loosening the nuts and shifting the resonator in the desired direction on the wire, without completely disengaging it, and again tightening the nuts. The length of wire is pro portioned to the draft of the vessel and when thus determined is intended to remain fixed,

and the wire with the sounder ready to be dropped overboard without loss of time, conditioned to assume immediately its working position in the water. The resonator should be located approximately as shown so as to stand near the rail when the apparatus is in operation.

I claim 1. In a sounder of the character set forth, a central fin arranged to travel perpendicularly through the water, and planes carried by said fin and arranged at a distance therefrom to travel through the water in a plane at a right angle to said fin.

2. In a sounder of the character set forth, a central fin arranged to travel perpelu'licularly through the water, planes carried by the said fin and arranged at substantially a right angle thereto and separated therefrom, and weights on the forward. ends of said planes.

3. In a sounder of the character set forth, a central fin arranged to travel perpendicularly through the water, laterally extending bars on said fin, planes mounted on said bars, arranged at substantially a right angle to said fin and separated from the latter.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FERDINAND E. FORSTER.

Vitnesses CHARLES It. SEARLE, WALLY E. Youivo. 

